Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-13
FIRST COMPANY.
gIcHuoND's rRosIEyrr PLACE IN
THE MExIckN-wAR gx-
cITEMENT.
The First Volunteer Company Organized
In This City-Interesting Personal
"reminiscences.

ferson county, W. Va, containing some
account Of the First regiment of Vir-
pinia volunteers for the Mexican war
/ beg leave to call attention to one fact
omitted in the account to which | refer,
of which Richmond, the home of my
vontb. and endeared to me by so many
pleasing, sacred, and hallowed associp-
lions. ! think, has reason to be justly
proud. Richmond enjoys the honor OF
raising the first company of volunteers
for the Mexican war in the United
States The circumstances are as fol
lows: When intelligence reached us that
General Taylor and his little army were
in danger / published card in the
Richmond Enquirer calling upon
the Young men OF Richmond to
assemble either at the City Hall or the
Capitol q do not remember which, for
the purpose of raising company OF
volunteers to go to the old Generals
relief. At the appointed hour was on
hand, expecting to meet few young
men, but, to my surprise, there was an
immense and enthusiastic audience of
all ages. General Porterfield was APP
pointed chairman of the meeting. |
delivered an address. | was followed
by nv father the late General Edward
G. Darlington, of Virginia, and that
eloquent advocate, the late Robert G.
Scott, Esq, and the late General
Charles Dimmock, and perhaps OTHERS.
The crowd became so great that they
adjourned to the Capitol Square, where
the speaking was continued in the open
air. | remember that while Mr.. Scott
was speaking he read TO the audience the
President declaration of war, and 1t was
received with the widest enthusiasm.
Tie next day company was organized,
of which | was elected captain, and
George A. Porterfeld, John ID. Warren,
Harry Williamson, and Carlton Mon
ford lieutenants Gas ] remember). The
company consisted of one hundred men.
With one or two of my officers (John
ID. Warren was one of them ! went to
Washington city. The Virginia dele
cation escorted lis to the White House,
and ! was introduced 10 President Polk
by the late Hon. James Mcdowell Cat
that time a member of Congress from
Virginia, and afterwards Governor of
the State) in the happy manner SOD
characteristic of that eloquent orator
and accomplished Christian gentleman.
The President thanked us and cOmpli-
meuted us on our patriotism, but said
he did not need our services at that
time. | then returned to Richmond.
The citizens of Richmond presented
my officers and myself eacbwith sword
0have mine now, and treaHrcit asapre-
cious heirloOm), and the company was
disbanded. Some months afterward
requisition was made upon the State of
Virginia for a regiment of volunteers,
which was promptly raised and organ
lied. Colonel Hamtramach was com
missioned colonel, Colonel Randolph
Northumberland, and General JuDal
Early, one Of the heroes Of the late
war, major, by Governor william
Smith. Captain Robert q. Scott was
elected and commissioned captain of
Company A, Captain William Archer Of
Company -, being three companies
from Richmond, and the other com
panies composing the regiment from
other sections of the State, and | was
elected and commissioned captain of
Company G. with all of my old lieu
tenants, POrterfeld, Williamson, and
Munford, except Mr.. Warren, who, |
think, did not enlist a second time.
We served from the time of our enlist
ment until the end of the war, and
were honorably discharged at Fortress
Monroe after the restoration of peace.
al the commissioned officers of my COM
panv returned home except Lieutenant
Munford. who was killed in Mexico.
We lost many priyates. My best recOl-
lection is that we started with about one
hundred men, only forty of whom re-
turned home. The scene is still fresh
in my memory, and [ think l may truly
say that | never witnessed gTander ex-
hibition of patriotic ardor than on the
occasion Of raising our first company,
as above stated. | repeat, ii was the
first company of volunteers raised in the
United States for the Mexican war. /
cannot conclude this communication
without some allusion to an honored
friend, who, in a spirit of laudlble
patriotism, rendered efficient ser
vices in the organization Of the
Mexican volunteers, for it is richly
his due. The gentleman to whom 1
allude is the Hon. Robert ". Hughes,
then a young lawyer in Richmond, and
now the United States judge of the
Eastern district of Virginia. This fact
is impressed upon my memory by the
circumstance that the officers of my
company, as a token Of their apprecia-
ton of his services, and as an express
sion of their personal regard, presented
him with an elegant copy of Cooke on
Littleton," which probably laid the
foundation of his future eminent sue
cess, for we were law-partners at the
time, in Richmond, and / do not think
that ere MAZE money enough bcfWccn
as u 6uy book Of 0ay Kind.
EDWARD c. CABREGTON.